Why Help the Environment?

Earth is where you all live, so everyone should work to take care of the environment and conserve resources. Human's have been here for a long time and have been altering the Earth to our own needs, we can still do that, (we ARE allowed to use the Earth)just in moderation. We need to give and take from our enironment. Do we want our children to be fighting for water, other resources and survival? I don't think so. C.S. Lewis said that we all make mistakes, and the best way to turn around, change things, and make progress, is to admit and accept them, then fix them as soon as possible. we need to do this before its too late.

Catholic Teachings on the Environment

Many believe that Catholic's do not care or take the environment seriously. This however is not true. The Catholic church teaches that the integrity of creation should be respected and included in the "common good." The common good of the Earth and eachother should always be our first priority. Man was given rule over the Earth by God but man's power over the Earth is not absolute. Absolute Power: complete control or rule of something or someone. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" -John Dalberg-Acton. Power over creation is limited by concern for your "neighbor" and respect for Earth. Animals were created by God, bless him and give him glory just by their existence. Therefore we owe them kindness. A good example of this is St. Francis of Assisi. We should strive to be more like him. Plants and animals were created for our use but not to waste. These are the teachings of the Catholic Church although sometimes we get too concerned about the common good of others and do not do enough for the environment. So our class has decided to research the church teachings on the environment and get involved!

Kramer Family Too Extreme?

Catholics Definately have a responsibility to take care of the environment, everyone does. That is one of the reasons why we, as humans, where put here, to love God and his creations. The Kramer family is a family who decided to go an entire summer without air conditioning. They wanted to help conserve energy for future generations. This IS a nice way to conserve, but our group has decided that this is a bit extreme. This was a great way for the Kramer's but maybe not for everyone. You dont have to be miserable to help the environment and the future generation. There are much simplier ways to help the environment, like: turn the water off while brushing your teeth, recycling, not supporting pollution, make people aware of what needs to be done, buy energy star electronics for your house, unplug things you are not using like chargers that draw power even when it is not charging any thing. Remember, you do not have to be miserable to be a big help, the little things count too!

RCS-Focusing on the Environment

Resurrection Catholic School of Pascagoula, MS tries to better the way we use resources daily. While observing students, teachers, and staff we have concluded that while RCS students do few things to preserve the resources God has provided that is not enough!
This year Resurrection has started recycling plastic bottles, printing double sided to conserve paper, clean up trash and use technology not to just upgrade, but to down grade the consumption.
Eight out of ten bottles in the United States end up in the garbage. Students here try to make a difference by recycling. One hundred ninety students attend the school and plastic bottle are recycled. RCS Booster Club even provides each student with a refillable hard plastic bottle in hopes that bottles will reduce production. RCS teacher, Ms. Jeffcoat sponsored a Pascagoula pick-up. Mrs. Cuevas, Principal even encourages teachers to make fewer copies, and encourages teachers to use their Promethean Board so unnecessary resources are not used. Our group believes that our school could do more!
Here is a list of things other schools are doing that every other school could do:
• Put recycling bins in every classroom.
• Donate old supplies to other schools.
• Start a compose pile of all left over food.
• Plant a tree in dedication for someone instead of buying flowers or other gifts.
• Put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank to act as a displacement device. (You will use less water!)
Remember one of the most important things to do is lead by example. So Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Those R the good things to do!!

Local Catholic Environmentalists near you!

Some would say that Catholics do not care about the environment at all, and all we care about is service. this assumption is very wrong. In my opinion, taking care of Mother Earth, and conserving resources, IS doing a service to our future generations. Although service is stressed heavily in the Catholic Church, more so than helping the environment, this does not mean that we don't care. Actually we care very much about Earth. God gives to us through the Earth, and we must give back!

St. Phillip Neri and St. Francis of Assissi are Catholic Saints who were stewards of the earth and "instructions" to how to care for and use God's creations are listed in the Catechism.

Catholics are doing more and more to care for the Environment. This movement is great, but not as great as it could be because it is only happening locally. For example, we recycle paper and plastic at our school, and more recently, in our neighborhoods. To make this movement more effective, we need a national center or "hub" (like the giant FedEx in Memphis.) to get more work and harder work done that small local evironmentalists aren't able to do alone. Although you may not see these servants, there are hard working environmentalists near you!